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Posted: Mar 05, 2013

Expanded New York Business Plan Competition drawing strong interest as application deadline nears

(Nanowerk News) Supporting Governor Andrew Cuomo’s leadership in expanding educational opportunities that enhance New York’s innovation-enabled economy, the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE), together with Title Sponsors SEFCU and the State University of New York (SUNY), today issued a final call for students to compete in the 2013 New York Business Plan Competition, which features a major statewide expansion and $500,000 in total prizes, with the final round of competition to be held on April 26 at CNSE.

“SEFCU is proud to once again partner with so many institutions of higher learning on the business plan competition. By design, this competition encourages young entrepreneurs to think creatively and develop new ideas to bring to market, while at the same time giving them the guidance necessary to ensure a successful end result. We have some of the best and brightest students attending schools right here in New York and by encouraging and supporting their ideas and talents we can continue to make New York and the Capital Region a commerce capital of the world,” said Michael J. Castellana, SEFCU president and CEO.

“SUNY, along with our educational and business partners, is thrilled to give college students across New York State the chance to hone their entrepreneurial skills and pique the interest of investors, venture capitalists, and seasoned business leaders,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “This vastly expanding competition is reaching more students than ever, revealing the power of public-private collaboration in New York to drive educational opportunities.”

“This competition is a true embodiment of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s vision in encouraging innovation-driven economic growth throughout New York fueled by educational excellence and high-tech entrepreneurship,” said Dr. Pradeep Haldar, CNSE Professor and Head of Nanoeconomics. “The support of both SEFCU and SUNY as Title Sponsors is critical to the success of one of the nation’s largest competitions, which has grown from 13 teams competing for $27,000 in prizes in 2010 to more than 300 expected teams vying for over $500,000 in prizes this year. This is proof positive that New York is open for business.”

Presented by CNSE in partnership with the University at Albany School of Business and Syracuse University, more than $500,000 in prizes is up for grabs — more than triple the amount awarded at the 2012 event – with national venture capitalists, angel investors, investment bankers, and seasoned entrepreneurs to serve as judges.

Student-led start-ups from accredited colleges throughout New York State are encouraged to submit business plans for innovations in areas that include nanotechnology/advanced technology, energy/sustainability, biotechnology/healthcare, information technology/software, products/services, and social entrepreneurship/non-profit.

Over 50 colleges and universities are expected to participate from across New York, including a collaborative network of more than 20 institutions that will host semi-final round competitions in 10 regions across the state, with the final round to take place on April 26 at CNSE’s Albany NanoTech Complex.

Participating host institutions include CNSE, the University at Albany School of Business, Hudson Valley Community College, Siena College, and Skidmore College in the Capital Region; Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF in Central New York; Clarkson University and SUNY Plattsburgh in the North Country; SUNYIT in the Mohawk Valley; the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in the Finger Lakes Region; Canisius College and University at Buffalo in Western New York; Cornell University in the Southern Tier; Marist College in the Mid-Hudson; SUNY Levin Institute, New York Institute of Technology, and Long Island University-Brooklyn in New York City; and Stony Brook University on Long Island.

Student application deadlines vary by region: Central New York, March 6; Finger Lakes, March 8; and Capital Region, Long Island, Mid-Hudson, North Country, Southern Tier, and Western New York, March 15. Applications in the Mohawk Valley and New York City were due by March 1.